Easy One-Bowl Cherry Upside-Down Cake

Because it calls for frozen fruit, one bowl for mixing, and minimum kitchen equipment, this cake is a breeze for bakers of all levels. But you do need a cake pan with high sides; otherwise, it’ll overflow.

Preparation

Arrange a rack in center of oven; preheat to 425°F. Take this time to assemble all your ingredients and do your prep. Melt 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter in small bowl in a microwave or in a small saucepan over medium heat and let cool. Finely grate zest of whole lemon, then squeeze 2 Tbsp. juice; set aside.

Brush 1 Tbsp. melted butter around bottom and sides of cake pan (if you don’t have a pastry brush, use your fingertips). Line bottom of pan with a circle of parchment paper, smoothing to eliminate air bubbles between parchment and pan. Making a parchment circle is easy: just place your pan on a piece of parchment, trace the circumference with a pencil, then cut it out.

Toss cherries, 2 Tbsp. sugar, 2 Tbsp. lemon juice, and 2 Tbsp. melted butter in cake pan (fruit will clump up when it hits the melted butter, which is fine). It’ll all melt together as it bakes.

Make a well in the center of dry ingredients. Beat 3 eggs to blend and pour into center of well along with 1 cup sour cream, 2 tsp. lemon zest, and remaining 5 Tbsp. melted butter (it’s okay if butter has re-solidified; go ahead and scrape it in there).

Starting in the center, whisk to blend egg mixture, then make larger circles outward to incorporate dry ingredients. Whisk several more times until batter is smooth.

Carefully dollop large spoonfuls of batter over fruit (it’s okay if pan is still warm and some fruit juices pool around batter); gently smooth surface.

Bake cake until top is golden brown and a tester or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 45–55 minutes.

Let cake cool in pan 10 minutes, then use a paring knife to loosen cake from edge of pan.

Place a wire rack over pan, then swiftly invert rack and pan; cake should release from pan on its own. Lift cake pan off cake, peel off parchment, and marvel at your creation. If some of the cherries cling to the parchment, tuck them back into place. Let cake cool completely.

Whisk remaining 1 cup sour cream with 1–2 Tbsp. sugar in a large bowl. Dollop on each slice before serving.

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Reviews

I've made this several times now - it has always been very well received by guests, especially with the sour cream topping. Hubby finds it hard to resist a second helping. I would suggest using a 2" high pan to prevent spillage.

I made this at my wife's request, as I am the baker in the family, and she is a huge cherry fan. It was "ok", but uninspiring, Perhaps if the cherry topping had been marbled through the cake, that might have helped. A scoop of Cherry Garcia ice cream is about all that was able to make this a positive experience. I won't be making this again.